Assignment 1 and 2: Articles on Book Trailers and My Opinions
I appreciate that the Chicago Tribune article acknowledges that book trailers are not exactly taking off, and a lot of that could be because they are called "book trailers". By calling something a book trailer, you are mixing two mediums--advertising for print by using video. Even though it's possible to advertise for video using print (movie posters), the opposite just seems weird. Movie posters at least give you a snapshot of what to expect for the actual movie. Book trailers don't give you a realistic expectation of what's to come because the actors and sets you see in a book trailer are not part of a final product. I think it makes sense that the trailers that the New York Times are writing about, where the author is actually featured in the trailer, are more popular. The author is the voice for the book so it makes sense that people are interested in hearing the author speak. I don't think they are particularly useful for readers' advisory because the best readers' advisory seems to happen between people, as opposed to through a specific company marketing. Many people come to the library asking for books that they read good reviews on or that their friends recommended for them. I think that's what makes reading and books in general such a special and unique medium that cannot be replaced by newer technology. Books are about communicating ideas, and the best way to share these ideas is to talk about them.
Week 9 Assignment 3: Summarizing Thoughts
There were a lot of aspects of this training that I really liked. I liked the focus on appeal factors because to me that is a crucial part of readers' advisory and recommending books to people. Knowing appeal factors for different genres helps me feel more confident in recommending books to readers who might not necessarily like the same things I like.
One thing I think this training could have used more of is resources that feature popular books/authors from the past 5 or so years. There were a few assignments that had us look on the Amazon Bestseller List or other literary blogs, but I think it would have been helpful to have some more communication on this blog about what's circulating heavily in the BCPL community. We have the Between the Covers blog, which is helpful for identifying newly published books. However, I think it would be great to have an ongoing blog about what's popular at our individual branches at the moment, and to share what sort of reader's advisory we've been giving. This was a great introduction to some genres and book lists I had never heard of, and overall I leave here feeling more confident about my knowledge of reader's advisory!
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Week 8: Nonfiction
Assignment 1: Reading Articles
I liked the Borderlands article about good non-fiction crossover genres. I believe these are still good non-fiction crossover genres today, but I think there is a new genre of narrative non-fiction cropping up in the 600's where all the cookbooks are: food memoirs and writing. Food writing seems to be increasingly popular as celebrity chefs are writing memoirs about what a large impact food has had on their lives (I'm thinking of Cat Cora, Marcus Samuelson, and Simon Majumdar). There are also a number of memoirs that include recipes within the writing (such as Scott Jurek's Eat and Run). Books about food don't just have to be cookbooks anymore! There's plenty of narrative writing out there, too! I also liked the Libraries Unlimited article which talked about why people read non-fiction. For me particularly, I actually prefer non-fiction to fiction a lot of the time. I read non-fiction to learn about new things or find new ways to improve myself.
Assignment 2: E-Learning SLRC Video
I liked having a description for narrative non-fiction that wasn't just "reads like fiction". There are specific elements such as character development, suspense, and engaging writing style. These are all good appeal factors that I can use to talk up narrative nonfiction to customers. Sometimes when people hear "non-fiction" they think "non-entertaining". Of course, we know this isn't true!
Assignment 3: Four Narrative Non-Fiction Genres
-Memoirs (Usually biography, but this one is in the 900's, travel--Wild, by Cheryl Strayed)
-Contemporary Social Issues (300's, but this one is in the 800's, literature--You Don't Have to Like Me, by Alida Nugent)
-Food (600's but this is in the 700's, sports and hobbies--Eat and Run, by Scott Jurek)
-Medical (600's--The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, by Oliver Sacks)
Assignment 4: Book Talks
You Don't Have to Like Me: This is a great recently published feminist book by a young author named Alida Nugent. She speaks about feminism candidly as she talks about how being a girl has affected her life in ways that she would not have expected. This is a great book for a new generation of teens and young adults with concerns about social justice issues. Her informal writing and laugh-out-loud funny anecdotes appeal to millenials who can easily pick up this book and say "I've been there."
Eat and Run: This is a book about extremes and it's great for anyone who enjoys the adrenaline rush that comes with sports or survival stories. Scott Jurek is an ultra-marathon runner, meaning he runs races that are 100 miles long. Not only that, he excels at them and has won many of the few ultra-marathon races even held. Not only that, he pushes his body to this level of extreme physical exertion all while consuming a strictly vegan diet. This book isn't just for people who love sports or running. It's for anyone who enjoys seeing the test of human will. It's inspiring and exhilarating all at once.
I liked the Borderlands article about good non-fiction crossover genres. I believe these are still good non-fiction crossover genres today, but I think there is a new genre of narrative non-fiction cropping up in the 600's where all the cookbooks are: food memoirs and writing. Food writing seems to be increasingly popular as celebrity chefs are writing memoirs about what a large impact food has had on their lives (I'm thinking of Cat Cora, Marcus Samuelson, and Simon Majumdar). There are also a number of memoirs that include recipes within the writing (such as Scott Jurek's Eat and Run). Books about food don't just have to be cookbooks anymore! There's plenty of narrative writing out there, too! I also liked the Libraries Unlimited article which talked about why people read non-fiction. For me particularly, I actually prefer non-fiction to fiction a lot of the time. I read non-fiction to learn about new things or find new ways to improve myself.
Assignment 2: E-Learning SLRC Video
I liked having a description for narrative non-fiction that wasn't just "reads like fiction". There are specific elements such as character development, suspense, and engaging writing style. These are all good appeal factors that I can use to talk up narrative nonfiction to customers. Sometimes when people hear "non-fiction" they think "non-entertaining". Of course, we know this isn't true!
Assignment 3: Four Narrative Non-Fiction Genres
-Memoirs (Usually biography, but this one is in the 900's, travel--Wild, by Cheryl Strayed)
-Contemporary Social Issues (300's, but this one is in the 800's, literature--You Don't Have to Like Me, by Alida Nugent)
-Food (600's but this is in the 700's, sports and hobbies--Eat and Run, by Scott Jurek)
-Medical (600's--The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, by Oliver Sacks)
Assignment 4: Book Talks
You Don't Have to Like Me: This is a great recently published feminist book by a young author named Alida Nugent. She speaks about feminism candidly as she talks about how being a girl has affected her life in ways that she would not have expected. This is a great book for a new generation of teens and young adults with concerns about social justice issues. Her informal writing and laugh-out-loud funny anecdotes appeal to millenials who can easily pick up this book and say "I've been there."
Eat and Run: This is a book about extremes and it's great for anyone who enjoys the adrenaline rush that comes with sports or survival stories. Scott Jurek is an ultra-marathon runner, meaning he runs races that are 100 miles long. Not only that, he excels at them and has won many of the few ultra-marathon races even held. Not only that, he pushes his body to this level of extreme physical exertion all while consuming a strictly vegan diet. This book isn't just for people who love sports or running. It's for anyone who enjoys seeing the test of human will. It's inspiring and exhilarating all at once.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Week 7: Not Just For Teens
Assignment 1: What to Read Next flowchart
I didn't find this flowchart to be as confusing as some of my peers. However, I wasn't really looking at it as a "follow this until you get to the right choice" perspective. The chart did a good job of organizing the appeal factors into specific categories such as environmental disaster, resistance to authoritarian government, social control, etc. I wish there were more charts like this for other popular teen series!
Assignment 2: Reading Articles
Not Just for Teens: School Library Journal
I liked that this article highlighted appeal factors for all teen books in general, rather than just specific books or series. I read many books from the teen section when I was in middle school, and two of these appeal factors speak to me most: coming-of-age and emotional immediacy. Maybe it was something about becoming a teenager that made stories about teenagers so fascinating. Knowing that I was not alone in my awkwardness or hormones was comforting to me, and it was easy to get absorbed in these stories. I definitely understand the appeal of teen fiction for teens, but I am not quite sure if I see it the appeal as an adult. I don't have anything against teen fiction, but I also haven't had a desire to read it as an adult. One of the authors in the article mentioned that they don't like to delineate between teen readers and adult readers because they usually want the same thing. I agree with this, because I still want emotional immediacy in my books and I would be happy to read about people who are my age. However, most of the characters in teen books aren't my age, which is perhaps why I feel more disconnected reading teen fiction now than I used to. I feel like I may enjoy teen books more when I'm older and I can look back fondly on my teen years as a distant memory. For now I think I'm a little too close to the teen/young adult range to feel that sort of nostalgia.
A Not-So-Young-Audience for Young Adult Books
I thought this article made a good point. Why is there stigma for reading Young Adult books and not any other type of book or genre? They're just different, not necessarily better or worse than each other. I agree with the author of this article that there is a much higher emotional connection with YA books than adult literary fiction. Literary fiction can be very methodical and intellectual. However, who's to say that we should argue the difference between emotional and methodical? People often argue between studying science vs the humanities, claiming that methodical and intellectual studies about computers and science are somehow better or more difficult than studying art or literature. As we (librarians!!) know, all facets of intelligence should be respected. This article shows me that all genres of literature should be respected as well!
Assignment 3: Following Blogs
John Green's tumblr is cool. He clearly knows his audience, because his books are written for high schoolers and I spent many, many endless hours on tumblr during high school (and maybe occasionally still do now). The vlogs are something I haven't seen much on tumblr, but I also don't follow many authors. I think if you type "John Green" or "The Fault in Our Stars" on tumblr you will get a lot more quotes and gifs about the book/movie than vlogs. If I was a John Green fan I would maybe prefer him to write posts about his thoughts rather than recording videos, but maybe that's just me!
Cassandra Clare's tumblr looks much more like what I would have expected from my favorite teen author while perusing tumblr when I was 16. Lots of artistic photos, emotional quotes, and a general aesthetic appeal. Granted, many of her posts are reblogs (meaning she re-posted them from someone else's blog) but overall I think it would be appealing as a teen.
Assignment 4: Publisher Websites
Based on looking at the Harlequin Teen website, it seems like many of the same teen trends from the past few years are holding steady. Fantasy, particularly those that are formed into trilogies, seem popular. In fact, many teen books seem to come in series, rather than individual works.
On the Teens @ Random website I was surprised to find that many of their bestselling authors are authors I read when I was a teen (although I guess that wasn't terribly long ago). I recognized Jerry Spinelli, Lowis Lowry, and Jeanne DuPrau. It's nice to see that some teen books seem like they are becoming classics in the genre.
I didn't find this flowchart to be as confusing as some of my peers. However, I wasn't really looking at it as a "follow this until you get to the right choice" perspective. The chart did a good job of organizing the appeal factors into specific categories such as environmental disaster, resistance to authoritarian government, social control, etc. I wish there were more charts like this for other popular teen series!
Assignment 2: Reading Articles
Not Just for Teens: School Library Journal
I liked that this article highlighted appeal factors for all teen books in general, rather than just specific books or series. I read many books from the teen section when I was in middle school, and two of these appeal factors speak to me most: coming-of-age and emotional immediacy. Maybe it was something about becoming a teenager that made stories about teenagers so fascinating. Knowing that I was not alone in my awkwardness or hormones was comforting to me, and it was easy to get absorbed in these stories. I definitely understand the appeal of teen fiction for teens, but I am not quite sure if I see it the appeal as an adult. I don't have anything against teen fiction, but I also haven't had a desire to read it as an adult. One of the authors in the article mentioned that they don't like to delineate between teen readers and adult readers because they usually want the same thing. I agree with this, because I still want emotional immediacy in my books and I would be happy to read about people who are my age. However, most of the characters in teen books aren't my age, which is perhaps why I feel more disconnected reading teen fiction now than I used to. I feel like I may enjoy teen books more when I'm older and I can look back fondly on my teen years as a distant memory. For now I think I'm a little too close to the teen/young adult range to feel that sort of nostalgia.
A Not-So-Young-Audience for Young Adult Books
I thought this article made a good point. Why is there stigma for reading Young Adult books and not any other type of book or genre? They're just different, not necessarily better or worse than each other. I agree with the author of this article that there is a much higher emotional connection with YA books than adult literary fiction. Literary fiction can be very methodical and intellectual. However, who's to say that we should argue the difference between emotional and methodical? People often argue between studying science vs the humanities, claiming that methodical and intellectual studies about computers and science are somehow better or more difficult than studying art or literature. As we (librarians!!) know, all facets of intelligence should be respected. This article shows me that all genres of literature should be respected as well!
Assignment 3: Following Blogs
John Green's tumblr is cool. He clearly knows his audience, because his books are written for high schoolers and I spent many, many endless hours on tumblr during high school (and maybe occasionally still do now). The vlogs are something I haven't seen much on tumblr, but I also don't follow many authors. I think if you type "John Green" or "The Fault in Our Stars" on tumblr you will get a lot more quotes and gifs about the book/movie than vlogs. If I was a John Green fan I would maybe prefer him to write posts about his thoughts rather than recording videos, but maybe that's just me!
Cassandra Clare's tumblr looks much more like what I would have expected from my favorite teen author while perusing tumblr when I was 16. Lots of artistic photos, emotional quotes, and a general aesthetic appeal. Granted, many of her posts are reblogs (meaning she re-posted them from someone else's blog) but overall I think it would be appealing as a teen.
Assignment 4: Publisher Websites
Based on looking at the Harlequin Teen website, it seems like many of the same teen trends from the past few years are holding steady. Fantasy, particularly those that are formed into trilogies, seem popular. In fact, many teen books seem to come in series, rather than individual works.
On the Teens @ Random website I was surprised to find that many of their bestselling authors are authors I read when I was a teen (although I guess that wasn't terribly long ago). I recognized Jerry Spinelli, Lowis Lowry, and Jeanne DuPrau. It's nice to see that some teen books seem like they are becoming classics in the genre.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)